Episode 385 - Mike Ritland

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May 5, 2025

Mike Ritland, a former Navy SEAL and founder of Trikos International, shares riveting stories about his military service and the incredible bond between dogs and their handlers. He discusses the psychological challenges faced by retired working dogs and the mission of the Warrior Dog Foundation to save these heroes from euthanasia. The conversation also delves into the complexities of firearm training, misconceptions about special operations, and the emotional toll of military life, blending humor with profound insights on accountability and personal growth.

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ANECDOTE

Jujitsu Injury and Recovery

Mike Ritland suffered a full tricep tear during jujitsu while rolling with a seasoned blue belt.
Recovery spanned nearly a year before returning to training cautiously with private lessons.

INSIGHT

JSOC's Narrow Mastery

JSOC operators specialize in very narrow skill sets, mastering only a few tasks.
This focus enables superior efficiency compared to conventional units juggling many diverse skills.

INSIGHT

Aircraft Hostage Rescue Challenges

Hostage rescue in aircraft is one of the worst tactical environments possible.
Rapid, overwhelming entry and use of dogs likely provide the best chance for success.

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Mike Ritland served as a United States Navy SEAL for 12 years.

During his service, he navigated the training ground and battlefield within the special operations community. While on deployment in Iraq with a group of Marines and their combat K9, this highly trained combat dog saved the Marines’ lives during a dangerous operation, making the K9 a true hero. And just like that, a light switch went off for Mike.

Using the knowledge gained as a SEAL and his growing experience with the most elite dogs in the world, he left the military in 2008 to start his own dog company, Trikos International. Trikos’ reputation, forged from Mike’s career as a SEAL, grew rapidly. The company was awarded government contracts with DHS, DOD, TSA, and Customs & Border Protection. Circa 2010, Mike Ritland and Trikos International accepted the contract as the training group for the West Coast SEAL Canine Program and reunited Mike with his former teammates.

Trikos became a highly reputable dog training & procurement company that specialized in providing working K9s to a multitude of clients to include celebrities, private individuals, and government agencies.

Mike’s career brought him full circle while working on the West Coast. He discovered that former high-level working dogs were being euthanized when they could no longer serve. Most of these dogs were psychologically compromised from chaotic and traumatic experiences that occurred while “doing the job.” After years of service in some of the worst places on earth, they were physically broken down, causing many to default to aggression. Mike saw this as another opportunity to make an impact, so he started the Warrior Dog Foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to prevent euthanization and provide care & dignity to retired working dogs who have served in any capacity. Some dogs are rehabbed or rehomed, if possible. For others, the goal is to make them comfortable while bringing them back to health.

Since 2010, the foundation has cared for over 200 dogs who were all scheduled for euthanization. Training and rehabbing the finest working dogs on the globe provided empirical data for what all breeds require mentally, physically, and emotionally. The methods and proper canine nutrition required to care for these warriors further expanded Mike’s experience, thus revolutionizing his methods.

Warrior Dog Foundation: https://warriordogfoundation.org/

Today's Sponsors:

Black Rifle Coffee: https://www.blackriflecoffee.com/

LMNT: https://www.drinklmnt.com/clearedhot